Barely a month after launching a new P3 million towards the Re Ba bona Ha grassroots sports development programme, mining giants Debswana have now turned their eyes to the Botswana First Division football league.
As part of the P6 million three-year sponsorship forged last year, the mining giant has now donated kits to all the 24 first division teams in the country.
The kit was launched this past Thursday at the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) warm up facilities.
Officially launching the kits, Debswana Managing Director, Balisi Bonyongo, said the kits’ launch was Debswana’s demonstration of its continuing commitment to the growth and development of sport in the country.
He said with the investment his company is making towards sport in the country, Debswana is looking to make a very positive impact in the lives of young Batswana. He said as a company, Debswana believes that its legacy in the country will not be judged by moneys in the company or the Government’s coffers but rather on the legacy it leaves for Botswana’s youth.
“Debswana has over the years touched the lives of numerous young Batswana through its financial and moral support of the beautiful game of football… Through these investments we continue to touch the lives of young Batswana in a way that is real, lasting and it makes us proud,” Bonyongo said.
He said Debswana’s contribution to sport resonates with one of the company’s values of ‘Show We Car,’ which states that the company ‘will always think through the consequences of what we do so that our contribution to the world is real, lasting and makes us proud.’
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) President, Tebogo Sebego, said the kits’ launch underlined Debswana’s initiative to develop talent in the country.
He said the launch of the kits, which follows on the recent sponsorships make for ‘exciting times’ for Botswana sports.
The BFA President implored teams to work hard ‘to protect the marriage’ between Debswana and Botswana football.
For his part, the Chairman of First Division South, Tariq Babitseng said Debswana’s sponsorship came at the right time.
He said ever since Debswana’s agreed a P6 million three year sponsorship deal with Botswana’s first division league, things have improved for the league. He said ever since Debswana came on board, no team has failed to honour its fixtures. Babitseng said so far, the partnership with Debswana is bearing fruit, citing the recent calling of Maun Tigers’ youngster Ogomoditswe Baoleni to the senior National team as a show of such.
Debswana donates kits to First Division teams
